Can't Uninstall or Re-Install NWN1

[Legacy_Guest_Faerunner_*]

               This is hard to explain, but I have a Gateway gaming laptop that runs on Windows 7 Ultimate. Several months ago I tried to install a regular NWN1 game onto said laptop, but the CD Key did not work. Unable to install the game with the key, I eventually tried to uninstall the game, but my laptop wouldn't do it. I now have a fair amount of incomplete NWN1 data floating around on my laptop, unable to get rid of it. (Every time I try, it says it can't, and tries to recommend some downloadable software I don't trust.)

I eventually got a different NWN1 game and its two expansion packs, all of which have Access Keys that I know work because I successfully installed them onto my desktop. However, for a number of reasons I want to move the game onto my laptop. I've already uninstalled the entire NWN1 content from the desktop and am getting ready to reinstall onto my laptop.

My questions are : Does anyone know how I can uninstall the incomplete NWN1 data from my laptop safely? If I can't get rid of it, could I potentially install the new NWN1/SotU/HotU CD Keys onto my laptop without having any problems? (Like, will the laptop take it even though the access key was on my desktop? Will the new installation CD's content clash with the pre-existing NWN1 content, etc?)

Forgive me, I'm rather ignorant with computers and machines, but I've loved NWN1 since it first came out and want to enjoy it again, this time on my trusty gaming laptop. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Title changed.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Faerunner, 18 décembre 2012 - 10:56 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jpnole]

               Faerunner - I don't think there would be any problems with just reinstalling the game from scratch on your laptop using the NWN product you purchased and installed on your desktop. You can always delete any folders left over from the botched laptop install. First try going to the "uninstall a program" feature under your laptop's control panel and see if there is even an entry for NWN having been installed from back when you tried before. If not just manually clean it up and reinstall. I doubt you'll have any problems.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Guest_Faerunner_*]

               I've tried, but every time I insert an Installation Disk, the computer just tells me to "Insert Play Disk." (My NWN1 copy has two installation disks and a play disk.) Every time I install the Play Disk, it just sits there and doesn't do anything.

I can't uninstall the incomplete NWN1 content because every time I go to the "uninstall a program" feature, NWN1 never shows up. I also can't manually uninstall the extra NWN1 content because every time I do, some popup window tells me words to the effect of it's too ingrained into the computer to do so, and then recommends I go online to find a list of recommended downloadable features that can do it (which I never download).

I'm kind of stuck. I can't uninstall the old content, and neither can I re-install new content. =(
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Faerunner, 18 décembre 2012 - 11:01 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Jpnole]

                You know what. Instead of messing with the disks, why don't you head over to GoG and get the NWN Diamond digital download for $4.99 (on sale from $10). It's so much better than fumbling around with disks:

www.gog.com/gamecard/neverwinter_nights_diamond_edition

You get everything that was officially made for NWN plus full activation of all the premium modules. The NWN cd key that GoG gives you allows this. They can be downloaded here:

social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/199/index/4746466

You won't have any of the disk installation problems this way. This is what I did on a fresh install and I am playing with NWNCQ, NWShader and the community patch in glorious 1080P. Heck right now you don't even need a password or multiplayer account to get into the persistent worlds. You can either direct connect if you know the server IP or download Xfire, which is what I did. Also, with the GoG copy you can load it on both your desktop and laptop as you would a Steam game.


If NWN doesn't come up on your list of installed programs it's likely not installed. An absolutely last case resort is you can wipe your laptop and reinstall W7. You should do this once or twice a year anyways just to clear out the gunk. Either way I would definitely get the deal on GoG like I did. If I think of anything else I will post again. Anyone else have any ideas?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Jpnole, 19 décembre 2012 - 12:49 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

Faerunner wrote...
I've tried, but every time I insert an Installation Disk, the computer just tells me to "Insert Play Disk." (My NWN1 copy has two installation disks and a play disk.) Every time I install the Play Disk, it just sits there and doesn't do anything.

I can't uninstall the incomplete NWN1 content because every time I go to the "uninstall a program" feature, NWN1 never shows up. I also can't manually uninstall the extra NWN1 content because every time I do, some popup window tells me words to the effect of it's too ingrained into the computer to do so, and then recommends I go online to find a list of recommended downloadable features that can do it (which I never download).

I'm kind of stuck. I can't uninstall the old content, and neither can I re-install new content. =(

For the "Insert Play Disk" issue, check through the older tech forum topics.  This has come up before but TBH I can't recall what causes it or how to remedy it. It related to the the game version,  IIRC the Complete Edition had this problem for some.  But check through the older posts.  I'm certain this has been discussed.  (If I stumble upon it myself I'll post a link.)

As far as uninstalling it, either you or someone you trust needs to remove the NWN registry keys.  Until that is done, the machine believes it is still installed even though you have removed everything in the NWN folder.  I suspect those utitilies are just regedit interfaces of some sort but you don't really need them to erase NWN from the record.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Guest_Faerunner_*]

               I'm considering both of your advice, though I'm a little lost what to do. I'm afraid to try to download NWN Diamond digital because it seems like the laptop thinks NWN1 is already registered anyway, so it might not accept the new content. I also don't know about wiping the laptop and reinstalling W7 either because it's probably going to be expensive and we just don't have the funds for it right now.

I'll try to go over older posts see if any of them have the answer while thinking about it. Though...

HipMaestro wrote...

As far as uninstalling it, either you or someone you trust needs to remove the NWN registry keys.

Out of curiosity, how would I do that?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Faerunner, 19 décembre 2012 - 07:36 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

Faerunner wrote...

HipMaestro wrote...

As far as uninstalling it, either you or someone you trust needs to remove the NWN registry keys.

Out of curiosity, how would I do that?

Use regedit or another registry editor to open up the registry.

In a typical installation, under My Computer,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE contains the BioWare keys. I'd remove every folder from NWN on down.  Delete them from the lowest up to the highest (eg. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\BioWare\\NWN\\Undrentide and all the other folders and finallly HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\BioWare\\NWN).

You may need to restart the machine before trying to reinstall the game.

(Sry this took so long to get posted. RL interuptions are unpredictable.)
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Guest_Faerunner_*]

               

HipMaestro wrote...

Faerunner wrote...

HipMaestro wrote...

As far as uninstalling it, either you or someone you trust needs to remove the NWN registry keys.

Out of curiosity, how would I do that?

Use regedit or another registry editor to open up the registry.

In a typical installation, under My Computer,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE contains the BioWare keys. I'd remove every folder from NWN on down.  Delete them from the lowest up to the highest (eg. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREBioWareNWNUndrentide and all the other folders and finallly HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREBioWareNWN).

You may need to restart the machine before trying to reinstall the game.

(Sry this took so long to get posted. RL interuptions are unpredictable.)

Thank you very much for your help, I might try this. Right now I'm looking at several websites to learn more about regedit and how to safely use it. I don't want to take a chance on hurting my laptop, but at the same time the extra NWN content has been bothering me for a long time, so it would be nice to get rid of it once and for all. (And then properly install or download so I can play.)

By the way, I understand RL getting in the way. The fact that you responded at all means a lot. ^^

(Actually, all advice is greatly appreciated. I would love to try Jpnole's advice, but I just can't afford to have my laptop wiped at this time and I'm just afraid to purchase the NWN Diamond digital without knowing for sure that it will keep. Then again, it might be nice to try when I know it will work, which comes back to why I'm trying to pull the NWN stumps out by the roots--metaphorically speaking. I'll be sure to post the outcome.)
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Faerunner, 30 décembre 2012 - 11:43 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Rolo Kipp]

               <adding...>

Revo Uninstaller is free, but I've had some pretty good luck with it rooting out stubborn registry keys and hidden files. It will give you a list of all the content it finds linked to NwN and let you choose what to delete.

Just something else to consider.

Edit: Ok, just caught up on reading. Incomplete install. Revo wont help. What HM said is the real deal. The keys must go. But you might use Glary Utilities or CCleaner  for that. It will find orphaned/empty registry keys for you. In fact, I recommend Glary Utilities personnally. 

<...to the confusion>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Rolo Kipp, 31 décembre 2012 - 12:00 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Those utilities that Rolo suggested are pretty slick so it is a good idea to check them out. 

Don't fear regedit or managing your registry.  That's what system restores are for! '>  All you need is a date when it worked as desired and revert back if needed.

Folks that have serious problems, frustrated getting NWN installed, have used something like a flashdrive or DVD burn to move the entire installation from a machine where it installed correctly to the "stubborn" one just by hanging it (the NeverwinterNights folder) right off the main drive.  If the original (copied) installation had already been patched to v1.69, no registry keys are needed.  But if only the stock version was moved, the applicable keys need to be added to the registry so that the patch can locate all the game components for modification (I've noticed that all the file type keys ALSO need to be there as well if they are unique to NWN, eg 2da).  Once the keys are there, the game will patch just fine.

So, assuming you are really stumped but refuse to give up... on bended knee, forge a plea to your bestest pal to install in his/her trouble-free machine and then transfer the entire installation over to your laptop as I detailed above.  Just providing another alternative for you in case all else fails.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bard Simpson]

               For what it's worth, here is the old manual uninstall procedure:

1. Delete the folder where the game was installed

2. Remove the entry from the start menu

3. Remove the following Windows Registry key using RegEdit:

 
    MyComputer \\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\SOFTWARE \\Microsoft \\Windows \\CurrentVersion \\Uninstall \\{C1583439-B034-4881-819C-D52A0587662B}

 
4. Remove the following Windows Registry key using RegEdit:

 
    MyComputer \\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\SOFTWARE \\BioWare \\NWN \\Neverwinter

 
5. Remove the hidden folder:

 
    C: \\Program Files \\InstallShield Installation Information \\{C1583439-B034-4881-819C-D52A0587662B}

 
    (where C: is the drive on your system with the Program Files folder)

 

There should be no traces of the game left on the system.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

Bard Simpson wrote...
-- clip --
5. Remove the hidden folder:
 
    C: Program Files InstallShield Installation Information {C1583439-B034-4881-819C-D52A0587662B}
 
    (where C: is the drive on your system with the Program Files folder)
 [/code]

Never considered the keys for installation hidden files, Bard.  Good point. '>

One other thing to mention...  

The registry GUIDs that are listed in the game's keys (under Bioware) vary from installation to installation.  Those are random unique Hex number series generated as part of the normal installation.  There are free GUID generators available on the Web should you decide to copy a complete non-patched installation over yourself.  Otherwise, the InstallShield (or whatever install software you use) will assign those numbers itself.  The one that Bard mentions is a static one that is used for all NWN installations (the GUID matches between the file and the reg key).

@Faerunner....  when you installed the game was it installed in the C:\\NeverwinterNights folder or the C:\\Program Files\\NeverwinterNights folder?

               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 31 décembre 2012 - 06:00 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Guest_Faerunner_*]

               Wow, so many choices... @.@

I honestly don't even remember. It's been such a long time. I guess it was the C:\\Programs Files\\Neverwinter Nights\\Folder. That's what usually gets created when I install PC games on my laptop. I'll have to check again, but for the record there are no visible nwn files on my computer. I've tried searching for Neverwinter Nights and NWN in every way I know how, and it does not show up.